Patent GB-967779-A (GB)
Title: Fabric conditioning machine
IPC: D06F58/38
Filed: 1962-02-21
Abstract: 967,779. Electric control systems. MAYTAG CO. Feb. 21,1962 [March 20, 1961], No. 6715/62. Heading G1N. [Also in Division F4] A fabric conditioning machine, providing a drying operation and an auxiliary operation, includes a chamber for the fabrics, heating means 75 for drying the fabrics, electrodes 80, 81 for completing an electrical circuit through the fabrics, a capacitor 110 connected between the electrodes, means for gradually charging the capacitor at a rate greater than the rate of discharge through the electrodes when the fabrics are at least partially dried and at a rate less than the rate of discharge when the fabrics are wet, means responsive to a predetermined charge on the capacitor for controlling termination of the drying operation, and means responsive to a predetermined charge on the capacitor, after termination of the drying operation, for controlling termination of the auxiliary operation. The auxiliary operation may be a period during which the fabrics are tumbled but the heater is not energized. Circuit arrangements:- Switch 95 has a plurality of contacts a to r, predetermined combinations of which are closed by buttons (not shown) to select various functions, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Motor 34 is energized through contacts g-h; heater 75 is energized, when centrifugal switch 101 on motor 34 has closed, through contacts m-n and thermostats 78, 79. Capacitor 110 is charged through contacts g-h and normally closed relay contacts 116. Light responsive element 112 is in series with contacts g-h, relay coil 113 and normally closed relay contact 114. After relay 113 is energized a holding circuit is completed through contacts c-d, g-h and 117. Solenoid A is energized through a circuit including contacts 115 and a-b and either contacts m-n and thermostat 78 (in the dotted position) or contacts g-r. Electrodes 80, 81 are connected across capacitor 110 through contacts o-p. At the start of a cycle contacts i-j are momentarily closed to discharge capacitor 110. Operation. In the "Regular Dry" operation electrodes 80, 81 discharge capacitor 110 through the wet fabrics until the required dryness is reached. The capacitor then discharges through discharge tube 111, rendering element 112 conductive so that relay 113 is energized. This causes solenoid A to be energized immediately to pull slide A<1>, setting the contacts as shown in Fig. 4. This breaks the relay holding circuit and reconnects capacitor 110. The auxiliary operation then proceeds until capacitor 110 is charged sufficiently to fire discharge tube 111 to energize relay 113. Contact 115 closes and solenoid B is energized through contacts e-f and g-r to terminate the operation by opening all contacts a to r. For "Wash and Wear" operation contacts q-r are ,not closed and solenoid A does not become energized until the temperature reaches 135C. and switches thermostat 78. For "Damp Dry" operation contacts k-1 are closed to connect resistor 134 in parallel with resistor 121 so that capacitor 110 charges more rapidly and relay 113 is operated while the fabrics are still damp. For "Air Fluff" contacts m-n, o-p remain open so that the heater and electrodes 80; 81 are not connected in circuit. The fabrics are therefore tumbled for a timed period without heating. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 877, 553.